Tire Component Unwinding With Inverting Transfer for Continuous Supply

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing unwinding systems for tire components require manual intervention and downtime when replacing cartridges, leading to interruptions in the tire building process and increased operational hazards due to the need for manual splicing and larger footprints.

Innovation Solution

An unwinding system with a transfer device that mechanically flips or inverts the tire component between pick-up and release positions, allowing automated transfer to an output conveyor, reducing the system's footprint and improving safety by eliminating the need for manual handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual intervention is used for transferring tire component leading end from stock reel to output conveyor, then the system can be operated with simpler transfer mechanism, but the system requires stopping or slowing down during cartridge replacement causing downtime in tire building process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operation of tire building processVSAvoidcomplexity of transfer device

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional transfer approach by having the retaining member travel along a guide path that positions the retaining surface at an offset angle of at least 90 degrees between pick-up and release positions. This inversion allows automated transfer without manual intervention, maintaining continuous productivity while the guide path design simplifies the transfer mechanism's operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining member acts as an intermediary device between the stock reel and output conveyor. It picks up the leading end at the reel station, transports it along the guide path, and releases it onto the output conveyor, enabling automated continuous operation without requiring complex direct coupling between the reel and conveyor systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If manual splicing operation is performed by operator, then the system can use simpler conveyor arrangement, but safe operating spaces must be established around unwinding system increasing the footprint

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefootprint of unwinding systemVSAvoidmanual handling safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates manual handling by inverting the operational mode to fully automated transfer. The retaining member travels along a guide path that brings the leading end to the output conveyor without requiring operator intervention, thereby reducing the footprint by removing the need for safe operating spaces while maintaining ease of operation through automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If the leading end of tire component is manually placed on output conveyor, then the transfer mechanism can be simpler, but the previously supplied tire component must remain in place on supply conveyor during splicing interrupting its supply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous supply of tire componentVSAvoidcomplexity of transfer device with guide path

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using a retaining member that travels along a guide path to transfer the leading end. This allows the previously supplied tire component to continue moving on the supply conveyor without interruption, while the guide path design keeps the transfer mechanism relatively simple compared to complex multi-conveyor systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4347231B1Unwinding system and method for unwinding a tire component from a stock reel and for outputting said tire component in a transport direction

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 VMI HOLLAND BV

Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C

AI summary

The invention relates to an unwinding system for unwinding a tire component from a stock reel and outputting said tire component in a transport direction, wherein the unwinding system comprises a reel station, a conveyor and a transfer device, wherein the conveyor extends at least partially above the reel station, wherein the transfer device comprises a retaining surface (111) for releasably retaining the tire component along a guide path between a pick-up position for picking up the tire component from the reel station and a release position for disposing the tire component on the conveyor, wherein, in the release position, the retaining surface is facing towards the conveyor, and wherein the retaining surface is offset between the release position and the pick-up position over an offset angle of at least ninety degrees around an inverting axis that is parallel to the conveyor and perpendicular to the transport direction.